Page 15 of Rise of the Melody
My brain almost imploded at that point in the conversation, and we’d only been getting started. The thought of faerie courts being real….
As Aunt Lorna spoke quietly, I braided the long hair on CooShee’s tail and scratched his rump. He glowered at the container of dog food I opened, sniffing it with disdain before reluctantly taking a bite.
“Sorry it’s not a live animal,” I muttered.
“What’s that, love?” Aunt Lorna asked.
“Nothing, sorry. Go on. Three portals total? Have they always been there?”
“No, no. Only the two portals were meant to be, in Ireland and Scotland. In the early days when the United States was being newly invaded and ‘settled’—” She used air-quotes,“— when druids in Scotland attempted to seal closed the portal to Faerie there, the portal to H’trae was forced open across the world in Maine, a rip if you will. Big mistake. It caused a ripple of pressure through the entire system. Tragically, all native humans living on the island were chased to the mainland by the beasts that escaped the rip. Fae-blooded have been there ever since maintaining the portal. The island was considered cursed for centuries by locals.”
Still was if you asked me.
“Why did they try to close the one in Scotland?” I asked.
Aunt Lorna sighed and twined her fingers in her lap, an old industrial area flying by through the window behind her.
“At one time humans and faeries lived in peace on Earth. Mostly faeries kept to themselves because humans are unpredictable. But tales of faeries and their possible treasures had made their way around the world, and many were being hunted. Their kind finally decided to go back to Faerie with the exception of a handful and magically gifted ones to guard the portals. During that time the Mystic Synod was formed and decided it would be best to have only one portal to Faerie. They planned to keep the one in Ireland open and close the Scottish door.” She shrugged. “The realms had other ideas.” She chuckled but her face quickly darkened.
“That was also the time when the witch hunts began. All across the world….” She swallowed and I felt my stomach tighten. “So many murdered in horrendous, cruel manners. But word got around to magical beings worldwide about an island off the coast in North America near Nova Scotia and the new colonies. Countless boats were said to have sailed to Shehan in search of refuge. To this day you’ll find the island has vast cultural diversity compared to most of Maine. All sorts of magic.”
I smiled. “Really?” At least Shehan would have that in common with New York City. “What other fae creatures are still on Earth?” I asked.
“I do believe there are still sea nymphs or sea maidens calledsuire, although most did evolve into land sirens like yourself.”
“Mermaids?”
“Indeed, though most prefer cold and migrated to the Netherlands. There are selkies?—”
I gasped. “Seal women?”
Aunt Lorna nodded and gazed at CooShee who lay on the floor with his sleepy head on a seat. “Yes. And forest nymphs. You know what’s funny? Your mother used to swear she’d befriended a Cù Sìth while growing up in Scotland, but nobody believed her. Makes you wonder now, doesn’t it? Who knows how long they live. This could be the very same fella, though I’ve no idea how he got here.”
“Wait, didn’t you think she was human?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “We believed she was a human orphan raised by a mystic family. A human who knew about our world. We call them fuman or fumes.”
I laughed. “Fumes?”
“I know.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s a silly name.”
My heart filled as I imagined my mom, young and vibrant, hanging possibly with this same CooShee. I had very few memories of her, all faded. I recalled being on a beach with Dad but it was so cold that I was bundled up in a puffy coat with mittens and scarf and a hat. He’d said, “You can’t go to the beach and not get sand in your toes.” So, we’d taken off our boots and run barefoot through the freezing sand until my feet were numb and my belly hurt from laughing. As for my mom, I had brief flashes of her at home. Standing in front of the stove stirring a pot while I stood on a stool beside her. Or out in the yard picking wildflowers to put in a homemade pottery vase. She always asked me to help. Her hair had been long and shiny with light waves. She’d pulled it over her shoulder and taught me how to braid.
I wished I could remember more. I couldn’t recall any magic or my mother singing.
“There are many types of magic, of course,” Aunt Lorna continued. “Not derived from fae. All parts of Earth have their magical signatures and energies.”
“Ooh.” I turned toward her in the seat, pulling up my knee. “Like what?”
“Too many to name. Some Earth magic uses energy from the elements. There are healers and protectors. Each continent and land has its own rich history of magical folklore that were nearly wiped out around the same time. Humans populated so rapidly. Cities spilled into towns and lands where magical folk lived. Human minds cannot comprehend or handle the knowledge of magic without wanting to control or destroy it. Old languages were banned, historical and magical texts were burned. So much has been lost.”
I’d only known about magic for three days and I already felt a strong mixture of feelings for it. Trepidation, for sure. But also a strange sort of protectiveness knowing we were so few, and I was the only siren left. My gut twisted. How was this my life all of a sudden? Four days ago, I’d been obsessed with getting an off-Broadway job and now…. I rubbed my face and leaned forward on my knees. No wonder Aunt Lorna had tried so hard to get me not to be a singer.
“It’s a lot, darling.” Aunt Lorna scratched my back. “Why don’t you listen to your music and have a rest? Just a few more hours and we’ll be there.”
I hugged her and moved across the aisle to where CooShee lounged, sniffing the mesh of the cat carriers on the floor. He let out a sneeze of indignation when our white Persian hissed at him.
It was a comfort to put in my earbuds, raking my fingers through his fur, and watching the dense foliage pass in a blur of greens through the train window. He sat his heavy head in my lap and for a moment I felt at peace. I knew the feeling wouldn’t last long. There was still so much I didn’t know. So much I needed to learn, least of all my own powers and how I could possibly battle a terrifying mythological creature.
